The Pittsburgh Steelers were at a 33-year low after a Week 5 drubbing against the Buffalo Bills. It was a historic loss and fans wanted blood. Matt Canada needed to be fired, Mike Tomlin was bad at his job and players had no pride. They endured a week of harsh criticism and who the Steelers might get with a top three pick was a very hot topic heading into the weekend. The Steelers were double digit underdogs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the only question was how many touchdowns Tom Brady would score on the depleted defense.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Something funny happened on the way to the planned narrative Sunday afternoon. The game started and without the team's top three cornerbacks and best safety in football, the Steelers held the Bucs to a three and out on their first series. Kenny Pickett trotted out onto the field and the Steelers decided to throw the ball on first down. The rush of wind following the first completion to George Pickens was the collective air generated when the crowd at Acrisure Stadium gasped in surprise and then erupted with delight.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (8) congratulates RB Najee Harris (22) after his first touchdown pass on Sunday against the Buccaneers. | Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
10 plays later on a beautifully designed play, Pickett found another Steelers player who had a troubled week. Najee Harris slipped out of the backfield and into the end zone with a 6-yard touchdown reception and the first regular season touchdown pass for the Pittsburgh rookie quarterback. The coaching staff, that was heavily criticized for being outmaneuvered for what seems like a decade, put together a superior game plan and it paid off perfectly.
“You know, the mettle that the group showed this week,” Tomlin said after the game. “Remaining singularly focused on the midst of the storm and putting together a winning performance. Like I said at the beginning of the week, where we are is more than one good day, one good plan in terms of working our way back to respectability. We understand where we are and we ain’t running away from it, we’re going to continue to run to it and get better.”
The Steelers were missing five starters on defense and their second-round pick from 2021 Pat Freiermuth and the task of fielding a competitive team seemed herculean. However, Tomlin, Teryl Austin and Brian Flores put together a tremendous defensive game plan as the Steelers held Brady out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter, hanging on to win 20-18 in what was a huge statement game by Tomlin. The Steelers needed a win to save the season, but more importantly, they needed to play with a passion that had been sapped since T.J. Watt left injured in Week 1.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
The mental fortitude of the entire Pittsburgh Steelers team was on display Sunday afternoon in the victory. Pickett played well, but after the first drive, the team struggled to score again this week. Leading 13-12 in the third quarter, Pickett was knocked out of the game with a concussion, after a fluky 27-yard completion to Diontae Johnson that was nullified by a holding call on Kevin Dotson. Mitch Trubisky, who had been benched just six quarters earlier, entered the game and after failing to move the team, left for the sideline to a chorus of boos on his first drive.
Steelers Backup QB Mitch Trubisky, WR Chase Claypool Huge Reason Why Team Upset Buccaneers in Week 6
The defense played tremendously well and after the teams exchanged punts a couple of times, Trubisky ensured that he was going to be in the NFL for the next decade as the premiere bridge quarterback. The embattled veteran led an 8-play, 71-yard drive highlighted by a 45-yard completion to mighty mite tight end, Connor Heyward. He found Chase Claypool for the first Steelers WR touchdown this season and Pittsburgh led 20-12 with 10 minutes to play. Reporters asked Tomlin what it said about Trubisky to play well after being benched:
“I don’t know that it says anything that I didn’t already know,” Tomlin shared. “I got to know him throughout this process. He’s been professional in class, every step of the way. That’s why I mentioned repeatedly when you guys ask me about the quarterback position, not only him, but Mason Rudolph was engaged and has got good ideas. We are a collective and I just appreciate the unselfishness of all those guys throughout this process.”
Despite the four-game losing streak, with Sunday's victory, the Steelers and Coach Tomlin find themselves one game behind the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North. The Steelers offense still needs a tremendous amount of work, but the group as a whole gained confidence that no matter who is behind center, the offense can move the ball when they need to make plays. It is not a coincidence that the Steelers are now 2-1 in 2022 when they score 20 or more points. When they play a complete game and complimentary football, this team is a lot closer to the playoffs than a top 5 draft pick.
Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
The Miami Dolphins await Pittsburgh in South Florida next Sunday night. The Dolphins started off as the surprise team of the NFL and they will be near full strength when the black and gold’s M*A*S*H unit comes calling. Incredibly, if the Steelers find a way to win, they could be staring at a chance to get back to .500 on Halloween against the Philadelphia Eagles.
It will be a tall order, but if the Steelers coaching staff can put together back-to-back stellar game plans, it is not pie in the sky. For the first time in a long time, it seems like a realistic possibility.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Did Coach Tomlin surprise you with a great plan? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
